Canon 700D - First DSLR

AndrewSt

AndrewSt

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About to buy my first DSLR, thanks for some advice in another thread.

Ruled out a CSC such as NEX6 and and OMD, too small for my hands and by the time you put a lenses in a bag the weight saving isn't than much.

Really like the 700D in my hand and available for £585 with kit 18-55 lens and free bag from WEX.

Purpose is to upgrade from compact to take landscapes, travel pics etc. Also going on safari so will need to buy a zoom lens (Any suggestions without breaking the bank?)

Should I really try and up my budget for a 70D (£900 with kit lens but would need to use one of the importers to get a better deal), or the 700D and invest in some better lenses for safari and landscapes?
 
The wife has a 650D, and while the 700D is virtually the same camera with a different finish to it, and it's a very capable camera. You should be able to get some fantastic shots out of it and the kit lens is a good one to start with. For a decent zoom length for your safari you'll more than likely need a minimum of a 300mm focal length and longer if you can afford it. Something like a Canon 70-300 IS or a sigma 70-300 OS would just about do but if you could push the budget to a Sigma 120-400 OS or 150-500 OS that would give you the length without going too close to to around a £1000.

I recently added a 70D to my kit and in all honesty it's the best 'crop' body (APS-C sensor) I've ever used and if I were buying a kit to start off with I'd seriously look into the 70D. Buying from places like Digital Rev and Panamoz in Hong Kong or from Hdew Cameras in the UK will give you about the best possible price and you'll get great service from any of them.
 
70D with 18-55 kit lens £909 with hdewcameras £849 with digitalrev and £945 with the 75-300 lens.

Much difference between the two in terms of warranty. tax etc?

Basically looking at £300 more than the 700D, which would buy a good lens but not much point if the 700D is not going to be good enough.

What sort of price for a good lens for the safari (the only time I will need the zoom), 2nd hand would be fine.
 
You could get a 2nd hand Sigma 150-500 for ~£500, maybe less. You could then sell it on after the safari for about the same price.

I haven't had one but I don't think the 75-300 even comes close in terms of image quality.
The 70-300 IS is supposed to be a good lens though.
I have the 150-500 and I love it.
 
The reviews of the canon 55-250 are good for the price. THis would seem like a good lens to keep, just not sure if the zoom is sufficient for a safari.
 
Before I pull the trigger on the 700D could someone tell me when the 70D is likely to start falling in price. I have never really followed camera releases. I don't need the camera straight away so if it is likely to drop in price in a few weeks/months then I may wait.
 
AndrewSt said:
Before I pull the trigger on the 700D could someone tell me when the 70D is likely to start falling in price. I have never really followed camera releases. I don't need the camera straight away so if it is likely to drop in price in a few weeks/months then I may wait.
Click to expand...

You can see the price curve the 60D took here:
http://www.camerapricebuster.co.uk/Canon/Canon-Digital-SLRs/Canon-EOS-60D-Body

And track the 70D here:
http://www.camerapricebuster.co.uk/Canon/Canon-Digital-SLRs/Canon-EOS-70D-Body
 
Thanks

i guess its not going to budge significantly before Christmas. Think I will stick with the 700D unless anyone persuades me by the end of the day.

Need the camera by March but really want at least 3 months with it to learn how to use it properly.
 
Many reasons not to get xxxD

* Very small
* Awkward controls
* low spec, sensor very outdated
* annoying shutter sound, etc

You may spend quite a lot money on it and later regret it. As you have presumably little experience, why don't you start with higher end used cheaper dSLR, and put the money to better glass (where it actually matters). 18-55 is a truly limiting piece of plastic
 
daugirdas said:
Many reasons not to get xxxD

* Very small
* Awkward controls
* low spec, sensor very outdated
* annoying shutter sound, etc

You may spend quite a lot money on it and later regret it. As you have presumably little experience, why don't you start with higher end used cheaper dSLR, and put the money to better glass (where it actually matters). 18-55 is a truly limiting piece of plastic
Click to expand...

In agreement there, although the newer 18-55 isn't too bad for its price, the main issue I think you will face with that lens seeing as you want to shoot landscapes, is the fact the front element rotates with focus.
This makes using square (cokin type) filters a right pain, which I'm sure you would wish to try using at some point
 
Thedodo said:
In agreement there, although the newer 18-55 isn't too bad for its price, the main issue I think you will face with that lens seeing as you want to shoot landscapes, is the fact the front element rotates with focus.
This makes using square (cokin type) filters a right pain, which I'm sure you would wish to try using at some point
Click to expand...

There's more. f/5.6 max aperture is pain for many subjects. And 55mm max is hardly any good for portraits. And it is not wide enough a lot of the time, when it comes to the other end. It is simply very limiting in every way.
 
daugirdas said:
There's more. f/5.6 max aperture is pain for many subjects. And 55mm max is hardly any good for portraits. And it is not wide enough a lot of the time, when it comes to the other end. It is simply very limiting in every way.
Click to expand...

That's true but I was trying to find the positives on the lens lol
 
Thedodo said:
That's true but I was trying to find the positives on the lens lol
Click to expand...

:) it didn't read like that. Obviously you do a fair bit in the 18-55 f/8 range if you know what is suitable and what is not. However usually the crowd is trying to use 18-55 for all the wrong reasons in the wrong way
 
daugirdas said:
:) it didn't read like that. Obviously you do a fair bit in the 18-55 f/8 range if you know what is suitable and what is not. However usually the crowd is trying to use 18-55 for all the wrong reasons in the wrong way
Click to expand...

To be honest as soon as I reached the limitations of the lens off it went, my choice of weapon for general day to day use is the 17-85 then I will use primes for most other stuff.
 
They have the 70 D and 18-55 stm for £899 at HDEW cameras, very tempted now.
 
The 17-85IS is another kit lens and nothing to write home about.
 
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If this is your first dslr I honestly thikn you will be more than happy with the 700D.

I myself have just sold all my L lenses and my 50D and tonight have ordered a 700D. Unless you know how to extract everything out of the camera then I don't personally feel you will see the benefit of the extra money spent.

Next people will be telling you that you need high quality L glass because you bought the 70D.

Before my 50D and L lenses I had a 400D and Sigma 18-200mm and some of my best photography came from that camera.

Unless your aiming to be printing out large prints and are looking at microscopic detail the 700D and kit lenses will do you fine for a first dslr.
 
Thanks Barnesey.

Still deciding!

If I go for the 700D could anyone recommend a good walkabout lens to upgrade from the kit 18-55? Upto £450
 
Define "walkabout lens" as it applies to you?

That might sound an odd question, but my personal walkabout choice is a prime lens (30mm on APS-C) where some like a short-range zoom and others like a super-zoom.
 
I would mean a short range zoom. Wide enough for decent landscapes, reasonable for some portrait type shot with a little zoom to get closer if needed.

18-55 kit is one opttion. Reviews would also seem to suggest the 15-85 to be a considerable upgrade?
 
If you're doing portraits as well, I'd say you really need at least 80mm at the long-end to get the distance from the subject.
 
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